Zack Sabre Jr. Is Leaving EVOLVE, Signs New NJPW Deal

EVOLVE announced that long time EVOLVE Champion Zack Sabre Jr. is leaving the company.

Heartbroken to have to say goodbye to @zacksabrejr, but we’re unbelievably proud to have had such a great champion and wrestler be part of the WWNLive family. Thanks for everything, Zack. Come back anytime. pic.twitter.com/9aVJi2VKE3

— EVOLVE Wrestling (@WWNEVOLVE) April 7, 2018

A conflicting weekend. I’m not the EVOLVE Champion anymore and that’s been a huge part of my life. Coming to EVOLVE, leaving Noah. It was my choice to leave Pro Wrestling Noah and a big part of that is that I thought I could become a better wrestler, grow, and really challenge myself in EVOLVE and they’ve literally thrown everyone at me and it’s going to be forever a huge part of my career. I’m gonna look back on it very fondly but I feel like it’s time for me to step away now and the next chapter of my career and who knows, I’m sure I’ll be back again one day.

Sabre was the EVOLVE Champion for 404 days and dropped the title to Matt Riddle on Thursday at EVOLVE 102.

Sabre has signed a new deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he will now be working full time, according to Dave Meltzer. Sabre has been getting a big push in NJPW recently, winning the New Japan Cup last month then unsuccessfully challenging IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada for the title.

Sabre may still wrestle some independent dates, according to Meltzer, but his focus will now be NJPW. He could also potentially wrestle in Ring of Honor, which he was prevented from doing due to his EVOLVE contract being mostly exclusive in the US. ROH has a working relationship with NJPW, while EVOLVE has a relationship with WWE.